Serbia Appeals to UN Security Council over July Crisis in Kosovo

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic speaks during a joint news conference with his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg (unseen) at the Cernin Palace in Prague, Czech Republic, 25 July 2011. EPA/BGNES

Serbia has asked the UN Security Council to hold Kosovo's leaders accountable for the tensions between the two countries at the end of July 2011.

Back then, Kosovo's government in Prishtina dispatched forces to seize two border crossings controlled by the Kosovo Serbs living in the northern part of the Balkan republic, who do not submit to Prishtina's control and pledge their allegiance to Belgrade. This measure led to armed clashes.

"Serbia is urging the UN Security Council to send a clear message that the military incursion is unacceptable," Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said of the July 25 military operation in northern Kosovo, which caused casualties on both sides after Kosovo Serbs resisted the attempt, as cited by DPA.

At the end of last month, Jeremic blamed the 15-nation UN SC for the brief conflict, in which armed Kosovo troops invaded municipalities inhabited by ethnic Serbs loyal to Belgrade.

Belgrade charged Pristina of trying to impose a unilateral solution in northern Kosovo. Jeremic also blamed the UN council and the European Union law and order mission in Kosovo for the failure to stop Pristina's military operation because both organizations are responsible for peace and stability in Kosovo.

The UN said Kosovo's military action was the most serious so far undertaken by the territory, which seceded from Belgrade and unilaterally declared an independent state in 2009.

The tensions between Serbia and Kosovo remain high, with Serbia imposing a trade embargo on Kosovo in July.

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